Page 79 of Cage of Darkness
“I’ve decided to returnhome tomorrow.” She didn’t know if Odar had made the necessaryarrangements yet, but she didn’t care. She needed to be home withher parents right now. While her physical injuries were healingnicely, she was a mess emotionally. Nightmares plagued her sleep,she jumped at the smallest sounds, and when she closed her eyes,she saw Shelene’s lifeless body demanding retribution.
“Are you well enough forthe long journey?” King Viscor asked.
“I am.”
“Then I think that’s anexcellent idea. One of my advisers will accompany you to discussthe contract with your parents.”
She took a deep breath, forcing hertemper to remain under control. She needed to talk to Odar to seewhere he stood on the matter. Everything would work out. It had to.“Emperion looks forward to open communication with your kingdom,”she replied, trying to remain diplomatic.
The king smiled, the gesture nottouching his shrewd eyes. “Fren has remained isolated from themainland’s politics for a reason. What concerns me is how easilyEmperion acquired the three kingdoms to your north. To think…theyalmost acquired Fren as well.”
Allyssa went still. He didn’t intendto move forward with the marriage treaty regardless of what Odarwanted. The words poured from her mouth. “Technically, the marriagecontract has been signed. I’m not certain my parents will wish tosever it so callously like you do. After all, we aren’t clear whatRussek’s intentions are. I think it’s wise to keep our options openat this point. I would hate to dismiss something only to find outit should have remained intact.”
The queen hadn’t spoken once in herpresence. “Besides,” Allyssa said, addressing the queen. “I amquite fond of your son and would be honored to be hiswife.”
For the first time, Queen Lutiafocused on her. “Prince Odar will make an excellent husband. I amnot convinced, though, that he should be yours.” The queen turnedand gracefully glided away.
Stunned, Allyssa clasped her hands,trying to refrain from screaming at the woman.
“As I stated before, myadvisor will accompany you to Emperion and speak on mybehalf.”
“You do not need to fearEmperion,” she assured the king. “We have no desire to rule overFren.”
“And I will hold you tothat.”
An overwhelming desire to punch theking boiled inside of her. She counted to thirty, reining in hertemper. She had mistakenly thought she would be welcomed with openarms, that Odar’s parents would be thrilled their son was marryingsomeone he loved. In a room filled with people, including the oneshe wanted to marry, she’d never felt so alone.
“Thank you for yourhospitality,” she said, her voice shaking ever so slightly. “Ifyou’ll excuse me, I’d like to speak with your son to ensure mytravel arrangements have been made.” Without waiting for aresponse, she turned and headed straight toward the prince, whostood across the room watching her. She stopped three feet awayfrom him. “We need to talk.”
Odar folded his arms. “Allek, you canleave us.” She had forgotten all about her escort. “Come, let’sfind a place a bit more private.” He went to one of the balconiesoff the western side of the room.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Allyssa followed Odar onto thebalcony, a sick feeling in her stomach. At the railing, she gazeddown at the beautiful garden, illuminated by the moonlight. Heclosed the glass doors behind them, and she waited for him to beginthis dreaded conversation.
He came next to her and leaned on therailing, focused on the fountain below. “I hope the accommodationsare to your satisfaction,” he said, his voice stiff andformal.
She almost screamed. They had beenthrough too much to behave like strangers. “They are. Thank you foryour concern.” She waited for him to continue. When it became clearhe had nothing else to say, she asked, “Are the arrangements madefor my journey to Emperion tomorrow?”
“I have two squads of mybest soldiers prepared to escort you home.”
And now the question she needed to askbut feared the answer to. “Will you be accompanying me?” The wordsshook as she spoke them. Such a simple, loaded question.
He rubbed his face, still not lookingat her. “My parents aren’t keen on aligning our kingdoms unlessit’s absolutely necessary.” The festive music from inside driftedout to the balcony, a stark contrast to her tumultuousemotions.
“We aren’t certain whereRussek stands.”
“I know, which is why weshouldn’t rush to get married.” He wouldn’t look at her.
So far, she’d heard a lot about whatthe king and queen wanted, but nothing about what Odar did. “I loveyou and want to marry you. I thought you felt the same.” She foldedher arms, trying to hold herself together.
He gripped the stone railing, hisknuckles turning white and the tendons protruding. “I don’t havethe words to express the depth of my feelings for you. And that’swhy we can’t marry.”
She sucked in a breath. “I don’tunderstand.” Tears filled her eyes, but she refused to cry.Blinking several times, she willed herself to remaincalm.
“My responsibility is to mykingdom,” he explained. “If I marry you, how can I do what’s bestfor Fren when all I see, think, and feel is you?” For the firsttime since they’d come out onto the balcony, he looked at her, hiseyes glassy. “All that my enemy has to do is threaten you, and I’llgive him what he wants to save you. Our experience in Russek taughtme that. If I were to marry you, I wouldn’t be a good ruler. Youmake me weak.” He looked away.
It felt as if she’d fallen off acliff. “I disagree,” she said, stifling a scream, needing to grabon to something as she fell. “I believe that love makes a personstronger.”
